Oh, this is a ball thrown right across the strike zone! The answer for journals is the same answer you get from a physical trainer, to "What exercise is good for me?" It's the one you will do. What journaling is good for me? It's the one you will do.
I also have two journals- one for the morning and one for the evening. In the morning, I write whatever comes to mind, sometimes several pages of venting emotions and/or reflecting on what is and isn’t working in my life.
At night, I make three lists. First, I list five things I accomplished that today (small things count, and they don’t have to be work-related). Then I list five things I’m grateful for. Then I list positive things about myself (I’m honest, I’m a good listener, etc.)
On the rare days I don’t journal in the morning before anything else, I notice a difference. I’m less productive and more easily irritated with myself and others.
Lovely piece on journaling, much of which I relate to enthusiastically! Thank you for the Book Lines, too. How lovely to revisit quotes from these treasured tomes.
Just finished reading your journaling journey Joyce and it sounds similar to mine with mine though being far sketchier than yours. As I sit here in my recliner with my sweet dog lying next to me I can see the notebook I used as a journal while my husband was so sick and his final days on this earth. I’ve also kept journals or notes when I travel. Otherwise, I’m a complete goof when it comes down to a daily routine of expressing how my life has gone on a certain day. Last year I made a major change in my life but I was far too busy to write anything down about it and now that it’s pretty much over and my lifestyle has settled into a new routine, I keep asking myself why mess with writing about it.
I’m finding though that I do spend A LOT of time writing responses on Substack to you and several others who I follow or subscribe to. Actually, my paid subscriptions are out of control but they’re either informative or entertaining; both of which are my “food for thought”. See what I’ve done here?
Now, my coffee has worked its way through my system so I’m going to leave you with this:
“Take every chance you get in life, because some things only happen once.”
Oh, this is a ball thrown right across the strike zone! The answer for journals is the same answer you get from a physical trainer, to "What exercise is good for me?" It's the one you will do. What journaling is good for me? It's the one you will do.
I also have two journals- one for the morning and one for the evening. In the morning, I write whatever comes to mind, sometimes several pages of venting emotions and/or reflecting on what is and isn’t working in my life.
At night, I make three lists. First, I list five things I accomplished that today (small things count, and they don’t have to be work-related). Then I list five things I’m grateful for. Then I list positive things about myself (I’m honest, I’m a good listener, etc.)
On the rare days I don’t journal in the morning before anything else, I notice a difference. I’m less productive and more easily irritated with myself and others.
A wonderful post, my life is hard struggle day in and day out
Lovely piece on journaling, much of which I relate to enthusiastically! Thank you for the Book Lines, too. How lovely to revisit quotes from these treasured tomes.
Just finished reading your journaling journey Joyce and it sounds similar to mine with mine though being far sketchier than yours. As I sit here in my recliner with my sweet dog lying next to me I can see the notebook I used as a journal while my husband was so sick and his final days on this earth. I’ve also kept journals or notes when I travel. Otherwise, I’m a complete goof when it comes down to a daily routine of expressing how my life has gone on a certain day. Last year I made a major change in my life but I was far too busy to write anything down about it and now that it’s pretty much over and my lifestyle has settled into a new routine, I keep asking myself why mess with writing about it.
I’m finding though that I do spend A LOT of time writing responses on Substack to you and several others who I follow or subscribe to. Actually, my paid subscriptions are out of control but they’re either informative or entertaining; both of which are my “food for thought”. See what I’ve done here?
Now, my coffee has worked its way through my system so I’m going to leave you with this:
“Take every chance you get in life, because some things only happen once.”